Gangtok: At least three people died and as many as 20 were injured after a milk tanker rammed into three cars which were parked near a fair in Sikkim’s Ranipool on Saturday night. The people gathered in the area got crushed under the milk tanker as the force of the collision pushed them into the mela ground. The CCTV footage of the incident has gone viral in which the car can be seen pushed into the ground after the tanker rammed into the people. Onlookers rushed to help the injured people who got under the vehicles.
According Gangtok DM Tushar Nikhare, “Tambola program was going on in Ranipur at around 7.30 in the evening. During the program, a truck entered there, due to which 3 people died. About 20 patients have been admitted to the hospital…They are undergoing treatment…Sikkim government has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh for the family of the deceased. The state government will bear the cost of the treatment of the injured…Investigation is underway…”
#WATCH | Sikkim: Gangtok DM Tushar Nikhare said, “Tambola program was going on in Ranipur at around 7.30 in the evening. During the program, a truck entered there, due to which 3 people died. About 20 patients have been admitted to the hospital…They are undergoing… pic.twitter.com/cGylTDW0JL
— ANI (@ANI) February 11, 2024
Preliminary investigation revealed that the mishap took place as the milk tanker’s brake failed. The injured were taken to a hospital and the death toll is likely to increase.
The mela ground was filled with local residents at the time of the mishap as a ‘tambola’ game was being held there.
Notably, the milk tanker had the Sikkim Milk Union’s label on it.